Lessons learned:
1. After doing additional tests, I now feel that this test had a flaw. Having the sheetrock pieces so close together allowed them to “stack up” and gave a false result. By spreading the sheets out, like in a home, we found that buckshot will penetrate 4 walls (8 sheets of sheetrock)easily.

To see the results, please see, Rifles, Shotguns, And Walls.

The slug penetrated all 12 boards.

2. Once again, please notice the size of the entrance spreads....2 1/2" to 3 1/2". Therefore, anyone that says, "With a shotgun, you don't even have to aim. Just point it in the general area of the bad guy, and you can't miss", does not know what they are talking about.

You can very easily miss with a shotgun. You must aim to hit your target.

3. The slugs were "bad" penetrators. By that, I mean that they will penetrate several interior walls. If you have loved ones in your home, consider this as you select your home defense weapon.

4. I "racked" the shotgun several times during the tests, and no bystanders lost control of their bowels.
Conclusion: Racking a shotgun will not make the bad guy faint.

Actually, they are comparably priced depending on the version you purchase.

Colt, on the other hand, is more expensive.

Didn't realize that. The Bushmaster I looked at was ~1,400 USD, no scope or peripherals. Only difference between it and the S&W was the dust guard and forward release (and 700$). I might have picked up a Bushmaster had I been able to find one in NY for under a grand.

I've been researching getting one because I missed a gun during the last "OMG GUN VIOLENCE" ban scare. Wanted a cheap one, but now realize for use and longevity, it may be better to build one or buy one for a few hundred dollars more.

Bushmaster Carbon Red Dot:

S&W M&P15 Sport
Olympic Arms A1 Carbine

DPMS AR 15 LOW PRO CLASSIC .223

I am not comparing quality because I have never shot one, just price ranges.

So, there was an entire market of between 630-700 dollars until the shooting. Then the prices quadrupled. No, I am not kidding. These low end guns were going for 2100 or more at one point. All of those companies, many more as well, have different classes.
For example, The M&P 15 has the T, OR, P, X , Sport and a no letter model IIRC. Sounds like you saw one of the higher Bushmasters.
Now, they all appear to be settling at about 100 dollars more than before the mass shooting.

Mossberg 500 from wally world, 220 bucks. Order a 18.5" barrel from Mossberg. 6 rounds plenty for home defense, and you'll have a very ID software Doom esque gun that you can use for pretty much everything but long-distance shots (200-800 yard shots)

Though, I really recommend a handgun (9mm and up) + training for home defense. Long guns kinda suck for moving around, though they are great for static defense (hiding in wait for intruder)

I have a gunsmith "friend" who owns a gun shop and he flat out told me he LOVES the whole "OBAMA IS GUNNA TAKE OUR GUNS !!! " bullshit and feeds it to sell guns and modifications to paranoid people. His only complaint is that the manufacturers are making even more bank and playing the same games with him and his peers.

Funny world we live in.

oh ... Remington 870 by the way. Easy to shoot, easy to care for, easy to customize, and very few complaints. My roommate got one a while back for home defense. I love it personally...

and re:shot gun racking sound ... I hate it. The last thing I want when I am investigating a possible break in here is to let the fucker know exactly where I am. A surprise loud authoritative voice once the intruder is in your sights is a much better cue that they need to be still and that they have fucked up.

Originally Posted by ghost55

Violence is pretty uncommon in clubs in this area, and the dude didn't seem particularly hostile up until the moment he slapped me.

“I don't mean to sound bitter, cold, or cruel, but I am, so that's how it comes out.”
BILL HICKS,
1961-1994